Srirangam Thaer Festival (Trichy - Tamil Nadu)

After Azhagiya Manavalan settles down for the night at the Room of Mirror, early morning He wakes up and gets onto the Temple car called Thaer. This was about 6 in the morning...

A couple of priests are also atop along with a couple of musicians! Think of it, how complicated it is to sit atop that Thaer, when its moving and to play a musical instrument as well!!!!!!
Its so very heavy, that it takes tons of people to move it. Even then it moves just an inch! That's the dent created on the road by the Thaer.

Its deliberately made so very heavy, especially in the lower half, so the huge structure doesn't topple, esp. around the turns! Its decorated with appliqued fabric atop as tent as we as, as hanging ornamentation called 'thombai' all around. 
Just behind the Thaer, several priests walk chanting holy hymns... 

Remember our good old physics, lever actions...??? Remember the 1st class lever action with load and effort on either ends and fulcrum at the centre...??? Ok, why on earth am I talking about physics??? Well, this 1st class lever action is put into use in the pushing of the Temple car... 
The temple car is so so heavy that just pulling it cannot actually move it! So a lever is placed behind the wheels. Even these levers are so heavy that, the effort put on it, is not people pressing it, but people sitting, standing and jumping atop it!!!

Bhushavali

An ardent traveler by passion. Being an ex - Art History Teacher, my area of interest especially lies in Nature and Heritage. Visited 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites as of June 2022. I've been listed among the Top 7 Women Travel Bloggers of India, Top 50 in UK. I have been interviewed in a couple of TV Shows, Radio Channels and Events as well. Read more about me and read the testimonials of different brands

15 comments:

  1. Wow. That must have been an awesome experience. Would love to see a Thaer festival in person. Excellent post Bhusha.

    http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

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    1. It was an incredible experience! Am waiting to attend a Thaer fest in some village temple which is all the more rustic and filled with actions!!! :)

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  2. My that must be hard work. The colours & designs are beautiful.

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    1. Indeed! Even I tried my hand in pulling. Hundreds of people can move it an inch! That's it!! Thank you Winifred! :)

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  3. Nice work. May 29th is Thaer Festival at Minjur, called Vada Kanchi. This town is close to chennai on the Chennai-Gummidipoondi suburban train route. You are welcome, I will be there if you need a host.

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  4. I have seen the thaer pushed by lever early. This is a beautiful chariot and great it has space for playing natheswaram and thavil! Well capture vali

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  5. I have been there. Its a very special dharshan as per my mom. But it was very crowded and we can hardly breathe. Nice Snaps. Cheers.

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    1. It is crowded but we have to find a suitable place to stand. I was standing on a compound wall when watching this!

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  6. wow..nice description about Thaer festival <3

    Coming sithirai month again have thaer festival in srirengam and this will be more more crowded than other ones.

    Keep exploring

    Regards
    Sathya

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    1. Thanks Sathya! Yes, Chiththrai fest brings in people from lots of places and ts very very crowded!

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  7. informative and colorful! loved reading it ! :D

    Keep Smiling,
    Lakshmi

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